In late August 2026, Spain sent two delegations to China within the span of a week, both with cooperation in the automotive sector as their central focus, headed respectively to the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) and the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
August 26: The Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Embassy visits CATARC
On August 26, Alfonso Noriega Gómez, First Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Embassy of Spain in China, visited CATARC and held a meeting with the institution's vice president, Zhou Hua. Heads of functional departments and second-tier units of the group also participated in the meeting.
Zhou Hua introduced CATARC's development path, business structure, and international strategic orientation. He noted that as a comprehensive technological enterprise group with extensive influence in the automotive sector both in China and abroad, the center has always been committed to technological progress and the construction of China's automotive industry standards system. He indicated that Spain is a leading European country in the automotive industry, and that CATARC wishes to collaborate with the Spanish Embassy to build bridges for technical exchange and economic and trade cooperation between the automotive industries of both countries, jointly explore broader areas of cooperation, and promote the deep integration of the industrial chains of both sides.
Noriega expressed gratitude for the reception by CATARC. He noted that China's automotive industry has achieved remarkable progress in the transition toward electrification and intelligence, and that the Spanish government attaches great importance to cooperation with China in the automotive sector. He indicated that Spain possesses a complete automotive supply chain and a privileged geographic position, making it an important hub for numerous international manufacturers to deploy their strategy in the European market, and expressed his hope that more Chinese automotive companies will expand their business in Europe through Spain. He emphasized that the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of Spain in China is willing to fully play its role as a bridge and actively promote practical cooperation between enterprises of both countries in areas such as technical R&D, investment, and trade.
Before the meeting, the Embassy delegation visited CATARC's cultural gallery, the technological exhibition hall, and the information security research center.
August 31: The Third Vice President of Congress leads a delegation meeting with CAAM
On the morning of August 31, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers held a thematic exchange meeting in Beijing, where it organized representatives of automobile manufacturers to hold a dialogue with the delegation led by Esther Gil de Reboleño, Third Vice President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, regarding cooperation in the new energy vehicle industry between China and Spain. Officials from the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China also participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, the International Department presented the context of the delegation's visit; the delegation outlined the comprehensive advantages of the province of Cádiz in terms of location, ports, land, industry, and support services, and expressed its readiness to welcome investment from Chinese companies and develop comprehensive cooperation; CAAM shared the development status of China's new energy vehicle industry; and representatives of the manufacturers spoke about their international expansion plans and their interest in cooperating with Spain. Both parties held an in-depth exchange on Spanish industrial policy, the investment environment, and cooperation opportunities.
Following the meeting, the delegation visited the Xiaomi Auto gigafactory. This activity constitutes a concrete measure by the CAAM to promote industrial cooperation between China and foreign countries, and has provided a communication platform to deepen cooperation in the Sino-Spanish automotive industry.
Source: China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd. (CATARC) and China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM)
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